Pinhole cops 2kg Melbourne Cup penalty as Land Legend escapes reassessment

Herbert Power Stakes winner Pinhole has been handed a 2kg penalty for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) while Might And Power winner Land Legend received no penalty, and both horses keep their weights for Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (2400m).

The pair earned ballot exemptions into the Caulfield Cup, where race conditions protect each from a penalty. Pinhole stays on the minimum 51kg and Land Legend on 52.5kg.

The Chris Waller-trained Pinhole rises from 51kg to 53kg in the Melbourne Cup and, having now passed the first elimination clause, jumps from equal 66th to 40th in the order of entry.

Racing Victoria Head of Handicapping David Hegan said black-type races run under non-handicap conditions over 2300 metres or further are eligible for Melbourne Cup penalty consideration.

“Under set weights and penalties conditions he carried 56kg to victory on the weekend, significantly more than he would have carried under handicap conditions. That performance therefore warranted a considerable rating reassessment,” Hegan said.

“The 2kg penalty is a reflection of some of the weight relativities he established against a number of potential Melbourne Cup rivals in the race. While it was a narrow victory, he posted the fastest final 200 metres of the race and continues to profile as an emerging staying talent.”

Land Legend led all the way to upset Sheza Alibi by a short head at $61 in track-record time. He rockets from 33rd to equal first in the Caulfield Cup order and becomes the seventh ballot-exempt horse on the acceptance list.

“Land Legend cannot be penalised in the Melbourne Cup for a weight-for-age victory at 2000 metres and remains on 54kg,” Hegan said.

Having passed the first elimination clause, Land Legend also climbs 30 places to 32nd in the Melbourne Cup order.